The Grates @ Ormond Hall,Melbourne (11/07/08)

Fri 11th Jul, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Everyone loves a surprise party. A sense of mystery, a hint of abandon, a common cause – all help generate a buzz that does wonders for a party vibe. Brissie band The Grates opted for three surprise parties in three Australian cities to introduce the masses to new material from their forthcoming album, Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. Last week it was Melbourne’s turn, and in howling winds and sideways rain the punters made their way to Ormond Hall in South Melbourne for the show – a venue all the more charming for its obscurity. So it was amid flash, art deco surrounds that the trio – Patience, Alana and John – took to the stage.

Surely the most striking feature of The Grates is their energy. It is true that their technical proficiency has improved since the band’s conception, and it is reassuring to note that they have maintained their vivacity while becoming better musicians. Patience, up-front, is central to this. Her verve is charming and infectious, her manner with the crowd easy and intimate and her persona accessible to the average fan – particularly so after antics including a calisthenics ribbon routine amid the crowd and a backwards stage dive with somersault pike, to the back of the hall.

While there was talk in press releases about Teeth Lost, Hearts Won having taken a darker, more reflective direction, in a live setting the new tracks blended with songs from The Grates’ first album smoothly enough. In keeping with Gen Y’s notoriously short attention span, I’d almost forgotten just how many hits The Grates had with 2006’s Gravity Won’t Get You High. It was a great treat for the crowd to have a handful of fresh songs punctuate a set of tried and tested party anthems.

The first single off the new album, Burn Bridges, has a winning hand-clapping hoe-down section, and at Ormond Hall finished in a nice and loud climactic fashion. From the new stuff Oh Yeah was especially impressive with its strong but slower beat and Patience’s borderline spoken-word vocals, perhaps tribute to Blondie’s Rapture. To the delight of the crowd the gig opened with pace-setting Trampoline and closed in style, as part of the obligatory encore, with 19-20-20.

Sure, the heart-shaped lollipop handed out in a Teeth Lost, Hearts Won – branded lolly bag was a cute manoeuvre, but overall The Grates are saved from saccharine by their boundless energy and rock-pop blend. The Grates peddle in good, clean fun, and should have plenty of kids jumping on the festival circuit this year.